Tag: Ministry of Justice

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 28 September 2026.

Lord Chancellor Alex Norris announces action to tackle prison drones and drug use, and help offenders into work and stable accommodation.

• Technology firms to develop counter-drone solutions for prisons, while drug-free living units rolled out further across the estate.
• Construction skills programme and new digital service to help prisoners into work and accommodation on release.
• Tough and visible community payback projects nominated by local people will be prioritised.

New measures to improve prison security, tackle drug use and help offenders into work and stable accommodation have been announced by the Lord Chancellor today (28 September), as part of efforts to cut crime and reduce reoffending. 

The package includes the next phase of a £6.5 million UK Research Innovation investment to develop new tools to tackle drones around prisons. Technology firms are being invited to bid for a share of up to £900,000 to test new solutions that help protect staff and clamp down on the smuggling of contraband behind bars. 

There will also be an expansion of drug recovery units to a further 12 prisons, bringing the total to 100 across the estate. The specialist units help offenders address the substance abuse which often fuels their offending. 

The Lord Chancellor, Alex Norris, also set out plans to get more offenders into work and stable accommodation to reduce reoffending. A new skills programme will link offender training directly to jobs and work experience in the construction sector with offenders helping build the new homes the country needs, while a new digital service will ensure staff can find suitable housing for prison leavers more easily.

Changes to Community Payback will also place greater priority on tough, visible projects nominated by local people such as cleaning graffiti and improving public spaces, ensuring offenders make a clearer contribution to the communities they’ve harmed. 

Tackling drones around prisons

Technology companies will be invited to develop and test new ways of tackling drones around prisons.  

This follows £35 million announced in June to strengthen security at our most at-risk prisons, including heavy duty window grilles, helping stop drones being used to smuggle drugs, weapons and phones that fuel violence behind bars. 

There were 1,497 recorded drone incidents at prisons in England and Wales in the year to March 2026. 

Expanding substance-free living in prisons

Incentivised Substance-Free Living units will be expanded to a further 12 prisons by the end of 2027/28, helping tackle drug use, build sustainable recovery and improve safety in prisons. 

The units provide dedicated accommodation for prisoners who commit to living without illicit drugs, with regular drug testing and support to help them remain substance-free and where needed build sustainable recovery for example through access to Mutual Aid organisations. 

Incentivised Substance-Free Living units are not the only places that people can access drug treatment and recovery services in prison, but they are dedicated spaces in prisons for those who are committed to living drug free and or are committing to their recovery from addiction.

They are currently funded in 88 prisons, with research showing prisoners on effectively run units were more than 30% less likely to be involved in violence, self-harm or disorder. 

Connecting prison training with construction jobs

The Future Skills Programme will be expanded to strengthen the pathway of prison leavers into construction jobs, with around 750 prisoners expected to benefit. Training and work experience will be designed for the sector, while new Construction Academies will have direct links with employers in the community.

Employers and training providers will equip prisoners with skills needed by the sector and provide opportunities for eligible prisoners to gain work experience on Release on Temporary Licence, subject to risk assessment, and move into jobs after release.

Evidence shows ex-prisoners with a job are up to nine percentage points less likely to reoffend. In the year to March 2026, 36.5% of prison leavers were in work six months after release.

Prioritising visible Community Payback

Greater priority will be given to the tough and visible Community Payback projects nominated by the public, while strengthening opportunities for offenders to gain recognition for the skills they develop through unpaid work 

People can already nominate projects through GOV.UK, including graffiti removal, litter picking, clearing wasteland and improving public spaces. A new framework will provide a consistent approach to prioritising this work across England and Wales. 

More than 1.1 million hours of Community Payback were completed in the three months to December 2025 – up 5% on the same period a year earlier. 

Plans are being developed to train supervisors as NVQ assessors so the skills offenders gain  through unpaid work can earn nationally recognised qualifications whilst paying back their communities, helping improve their employment prospects. 

Improving access to accommodation

A new digital system, Find and Manage Accommodation, will be rolled out nationally, giving prison and probation staff a single digital service to help them find suitable accommodation and support for offenders. 

Having somewhere stable to live is closely linked to reducing reoffending: the latest published evidence shows adult offenders with no accommodation on release had a reoffending rate almost twice that of those with accommodation – 72% compared with 38%. 

In the year to March 2026, 83% of prison leavers were housed on the night following release.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 21 September 2026.

Victims of rape and sexual offences will get the justice they deserve, as their cases take priority and new specialist courts are rolled out across England and Wales, the Prime Minister has announced today.

• Courtrooms for specialist rape and serious sex offences to be rolled out across every Crown Court in England and Wales
• Rape cases will be prioritised in the courts, tackling uncertainty and delays for survivors, with specialist upgrades introduced, including private waiting rooms and entrances for victims
• New approach will put victims front and centre of the criminal justice system

Backed by a multi-million cash injection, every Crown Court in England and Wales will get at least one courtroom especially set up to hear rape and serious sexual offence cases over the next two years, helping to hold more perpetrators to account.

Transforming how the justice system treats the survivors of some of the most serious crimes, the changes are designed to encourage more victims to come forward, providing them with private entrances and waiting rooms as well as facilities equipped to pre-record evidence and observe sentencing remotely.  

Rape and serious sexual offence cases will also now be prioritised in courts. These trials will be given a fixed date as opposed to being placed on floating lists where they can be moved at short notice and delayed by many months.

For too long, victims of rape and serious sexual offences have felt they were navigating a system that did not consider their needs for tailored support. In 2025, rape cases took an average of 424 days to complete once they reached the Crown Court, with too many victims withdrawing before their case was heard.

Today’s changes will mean victims get better support and face fewer delays, as the government continues to take decisive action to tackle violence against women and girls and deliver the justice that victims deserve.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said:

For too long, victims of rape and serious sexual offences have felt let down by our justice system. Prosecution rates for rape remain shamefully low, with many victims waiting years for justice.

This is not good enough. That’s why we are making major changes to rebalance the scales of justice and put victims first. This includes rolling out specialist courtrooms for rape and serious sex offences.

These changes are long overdue and will make a significant difference, but focusing on prosecution alone will not be enough. So as well as ensuring victims get justice, we will step up action to prevent these horrific crimes from happening in the first place.

Lord Chancellor Alex Norris said:

Victims of rape and serious sexual offences have felt they’ve been left alone facing the criminal justice system for too long. They have been treated as cases to process and not as people to support.

The funding we are announcing today will provide that support that victims deserve – delivering courtrooms that are designed with victim needs in mind and providing specialist training for staff to handle these cases with care.

Real action to improve our courts. Real action for victims. Real action to deliver the justice they deserve.

The changes announced today will also see all court staff get trauma-informed training and a trial to give victims of sex offences a single point of contact to ensure their needs are met during the court process. The new measures also include a new Rape Justice Taskforce, drawing leaders from across the criminal justice system to tackle the rising rate of postponed rape trials and confront the myths that cause victims to withdraw from their own cases.

The changes follow Charlotte Nichols showing immense strength and bravery in coming forward to tell her own story, calling for these crucial measures to support victims and ensure they receive the justice they deserve.

Ciara Bergman, CEO of Rape Crisis England & Wales says:

This important package of measures represents a significant step forward for our justice system, and includes many of the reforms that Rape Crisis England & Wales have been calling for over many years. Taken together, they reflect the urgency of ensuring that courts are fit for purpose and properly meet the needs of victims and survivors, which is crucial to securing justice.

We’re particularly pleased to see measures that will improve trial efficiency and ensure survivors are better able to participate in, and observe, proceedings. The recognition that suitable separate waiting areas, entrances and exits are essential to prevent survivors from being intimidated and distressed by the presence of perpetrators and their supporters is also significant. This welcome change is both necessary and long overdue.

Today’s announcement builds on the Government’s pledge to halve violence against women and girls in a decade and make sure the justice system put victims front and centre.

Earlier this month, the Prime Minister announced that by the end of 2027, all police forces in England and Wales will have dedicated rape and sexual offence investigation teams, helping to make sure more criminal cases are prosecuted. 

Since coming into office, the government has pledged over £1 billion to support victims of violence against women and girls, announced plans to place domestic abuse specialists in 999 control rooms across every police force in England and Wales, and is rolling out new Domestic Abuse Protection Orders to provide victims with protection for as long as needed.

The government has also committed to use every lever at its disposal to drive down the backlog of victims waiting years for justice through the Courts and Tribunals Bill, which is set to return to Parliament in October.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 26 August 2026.

Serious sexual and violent offenders could be confined to areas just a few miles wide after leaving prison under a world-first crackdown, launching in October to give victims greater freedom.

• Dangerous offenders could be confined to small areas just a few miles wide 
• Scheme to curb offenders’ freedom while giving victims greater peace of mind 
• Victims will have a say in setting boundaries, helping them live without fear 
• GPS tagging to track offenders’ movements, with the risk of recall to prison

New “restriction zones” will allow probation services in England and Wales to severely limit where some of the most dangerous offenders can go for as long as they see fit – restricting their freedom while giving it back to victims.

The first measure of its kind anywhere in the world, the new restrictions have been directly shaped by the experiences and campaigning of victims, who will have a say in how individual zones are drawn up.

The new scheme is a more rigorous version of “exclusion zones”, which ban offenders from specific locations such as a victim’s home or place of work.

Offenders can instead be confined to a tightly defined area, giving victims greater freedom to travel without the fear of unexpectedly coming face-to-face with their offender.

Offenders subject to GPS monitoring can have their movements tracked around the clock, allowing probation to identify breaches and take swift action when the rules are broken – including recalling them to prison.

Probation officers will draw up zones which will put victims first, giving them the freedom to go about their daily lives without fear, but ensure offenders can still access vital appointments and services that help to reduce their chances of reoffending.

Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Alex Norris, said:

No victim should fear the shadow of an abuser on their back.

That’s why we’re putting limits on dangerous offenders, confining them to tightly controlled areas and giving victims greater freedom to get on with their lives.

And with GPS technology helping probation keep track of offenders’ movements, those who step outside the boundaries can be quickly identified and face being sent back to prison.

It is simple: offenders should carry the consequences of their crimes, not their victims.

The zones can last for as long as they are needed to manage the risk posed by offenders on licence, with reviews taking place at least every three months.

Further details on eligibility will be announced in due course. The Government will work closely with victims’ groups and other stakeholders as this measure is rolled out to ensure it is operating as intended.

Hard-working probation staff play a vital role in keeping the public safe, that is why the government is investing £700 million in probation and community services by 2028/29.

This includes the biggest ever expansion of electronic monitoring and recruiting 1,300 new probation officers this year on top of the 2,300 recruited in the past two years, keeping serious offenders under closer watch and better protecting victims.

Public safety will always be the government’s priority. Last week, the Justice Secretary confirmed he was fast-tracking a plan to keep more of the most dangerous offenders behind bars, on top of murderers and those serving sentences for rape, serious child sexual abuse and grooming offences who are already blocked from any changes to their release dates. 

This will include the faster deportation of foreign criminals, better use of the women’s estate and reviewing the unjust IPP sentences. He is expected to update Parliament in early September.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 21 August 2026.

Rape Crisis England & Wales awarded £8.7m government funding to provide round-the-clock confidential support for survivors and victims of sexual violence.

• Rape Crisis England & Wales awarded £8.7m government funding
• Service to provide round-the-clock specialist and confidential support for survivors and victims of sexual violence
• Part of Government’s commitment to halve violence against women and girls and ensure swifter justice for victims

Victims-survivors of rape and sexual abuse will get 24/7 support through a free, trauma-informed, confidential helpline thanks to new Government funding.

The Ministry of Justice has announced it has awarded £8.7 million to Rape Crisis England & Wales to continue their vital around-the-clock Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line.

Free to use, the helpline offers confidential emotional and listening support to all victims and survivors of rape and sexual abuse aged 16 and over.

Since it launched in 2022, the service has supported survivors through more than 200,000 calls and 75,000 webchats.

This funding reflects the Government’s commitment to tackle these horrendous crimes and support victims.

Minister Victims and Violence Against Women and Girls, Alex Davies-Jones said: 

I’ve heard far too many devastating stories from traumatised survivors of rape and sexual assault who felt lost or unsure where to turn for support. 

I want to say to everyone affected by one of these horrendous crimes, the Rape Crisis helpline team is always there – to listen to you, believe you and answer your questions. 

We’re honoured to be able to continue to support their invaluable work and I’d like to thank everyone in the team for their dedication to supporting survivors.

Ciara Bergman, Rape Crisis England & Wales CEO said:

I’m delighted that Rape Crisis England & Wales will continue to provide the national 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line, delivering confidential, free and specialist support for thousands of survivors throughout England and Wales.

The service’s success, and the volume of survivors we’ve already provided with high-quality, trusted support, are testament to the dedication and expertise of the Rape Crisis movement. Our partners, support line staff and volunteers work tirelessly to ensure that whenever the time is right, no matter who they are or when it happened, someone will be there to listen, believe and support them.

Helpline specialists can also help direct victim-survivors towards long-term support services, whether they have told anyone about the crime or not. The new funding will support Rape Crisis to develop the service further, including by introducing British Sign Language Interpretation and providing dedicated support for survivors with different needs.

The Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor have also barred rape, certain child sex and other grooming offences from upcoming changes to prison sentences, protecting the public from these dangerous criminals.

The changes mean rape and certain child sexual offences will be added to the exclusions that are already in place for 18,000 offenders, including those who have been found by a court to be the most dangerous or anyone serving a life sentence.

The Government is also injecting more than half a billion pounds into vital support services to help victims and witnesses through the justice process. This will see a £550 million investment over the next three years into specialist services that offer practical and emotional support to victims and witnesses, such as counselling and advice on attending court.

Further information

• Rape Crisis England &Wales’s 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line is for anyone aged 16 and over in England and Wales who has been affected by rape, child sexual abuse, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or any other form of sexual violence – at any point in their life. You can contact the service at any time, day or night, all year round, on 0808 500 2222.
• The new grant funding will run from 1 October 2026 – 30 September 2029.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 29 July 2026.

Ruth Evans has been appointed as the new Chair of the Criminal Legal Aid Advisory Board.

The Chair of the Criminal Legal Aid Advisory Board (CLAAB) provides independent leadership and strategic direction to the Board.

The Chair advises the Lord Chancellor on the operation and future development of criminal legal aid schemes, ensuring they are structured to support a high-performing justice system. The role involves steering discussions on market sustainability, data needs, and the impact of policy changes, as well as overseeing reports, recommendations and representing the Board externally.

Ruth Evans has been appointed the second chair of CLAAB and succeeds HH Deborah Taylor, who led the Board from 2023 to 2026. Ruth’s tenure will begin on 1 September and run for three years.

Biography

Ruth Evans has 40 years’ experience championing the public and consumer interest.

She is the Founding Chair of Stop Scams UK. Throughout her career, she has chaired a range of public interest bodies, including the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, the Bar Standards Board and the Authority for Television on Demand. Ruth has also held posts as a non-Executive Director within the National Audit Office, the Independent Police Complaints Commission and the Serious Fraud Office.

We welcome the wealth of experience that Ruth brings to the role and look forward to the CLAAB continuing its important work to support and improve criminal legal aid.

Notes

The CLAAB was first established in October 2022 and meets quarterly. The membership currently includes representatives from the Bar Council, the Law Society of England and Wales, Criminal Bar Association, London Criminal Courts Solicitors’ Association, Criminal Law Solicitors’ Association, Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX), Young Legal Aid Lawyers, Young Barrister Committee, Crown Prosecution Service, the Legal Aid Agency and Ministry of Justice officials.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 7 July 2026.

Children in youth custody will be better protected through stronger safeguarding, dedicated social workers, tougher vetting and independent oversight.

• Dedicated social workers to investigate abuse concerns
• Stronger staff vetting, improved training and new unit to oversee child protection
• Part of Government action to make sure horrors of historical abuse at Medomsley Detention Centre are not repeated

Children in youth custody settings will be better protected from abuse under major safeguarding reforms announced by the Government today (7 July). 

Set out by the Minister for Sentencing and Youth Justice Jake Richards, the new measures include stronger staff training, tougher vetting for anyone working directly with children and overhauled safeguarding processes to ensure all allegations of wrongdoing are investigated robustly and acted upon swiftly. 

Central to the reforms will be a requirement for every site in the youth estate to have access to a dedicated social worker with extensive child protection expertise. This means no serious concern can be ignored or handled only internally. It also gives each child a trusted, independent person they can turn to if something is wrong. 

Today’s intervention comes in direct response to an independent review into youth custody safeguarding arrangements published today by Isabelle Trowler, Chief Social Worker for Children and Families in England. The Government commissioned the review following a report into the horrific abuse that took place at Medomsley Detention Centre, Co. Durham, between 1961 and 1987.  

Ministers have now accepted all 34 of Ms Trowler’s recommendations in principle, with several already implemented to ensure children in custody receive the best possible protection and the systemic failures at Medomsley are never repeated. 

This action builds on the Government’s Youth Justice White Paper published in May, which seeks to provide earlier intervention, more targeted support and tackle the root causes of youth crime.  

Minister for Sentencing and Youth Justice, Jake Richards, said:     

The abuse that took place at Medomsley is a national scandal and it is right that the Government has apologised. While we cannot undo the pain suffered by victims, we can make sure nothing like it ever happens again. 

That is why we’re taking forward all 34 recommendations, including independent oversight of every abuse allegation, giving every child in custody access to a social worker, and strengthening staff vetting to keep children in custody safe. 

A system that fails to protect children in custody creates more victims, not fewer. These reforms are about breaking that cycle.

Isabelle Trowler, Chief Social Worker for Children and Families for England, said:     

Following on from the Ombudsman’s important report last year into the Medomsley Detention Centre, my review examined the safeguarding challenges that persist across the youth custodial estate. I make a number of recommendations which make clear the urgent action required to better protect some of our most vulnerable children. While there have been improvements in recent years, the evidence is unequivocal: more must be done to ensure every child in custody is safe, listened to and treated with dignity. It is now incumbent upon the Government and, in turn, HMPPS and local authority children’s services to make change happen. 

Meeting children currently in custody and hearing directly about their experiences has been both a privilege and a profound responsibility. This experience, and the stories children shared, will likely stay with me forever. We owe it to them, and to those who suffered in the past, to ensure that the findings of this review lead to meaningful and lasting change.

The courage and determination of the survivors of Medomsley in their pursuit of truth and justice was instrumental to this work. Without them, the vulnerability of today’s children in custody would not have been brought into sharp relief.

Adrian Usher, Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, said: 

My investigative report revealed the full scale and horror of what happened to thousands of victims at Medomsley Detention Centre. The abuse that took place there was a profound failure by those responsible for the care and protection of children and young people in custody. 

I welcome the Government’s commitment to implementing the recommendations from the Trowler Review and strengthening safeguarding across the youth estate. While nothing can undo the harm suffered by victims, these reforms are an important step towards ensuring lessons of the past are learned and that children in custody are better protected in the future.

Meanwhile, a new safeguarding board has been set up to monitor child protection across all youth custody sites, reporting directly to Ministers. All staff working with children in custody must now also complete mandatory safeguarding training, and enhanced criminal record checks will be renewed every three years.  

Recruitment processes have also been strengthened to better root out unsuitable candidates, with training for frontline staff being redesigned to better meet the needs of vulnerable children. 

Further action announced today includes: 

• Under the new system, a trusted adult, such as a family member, advocate or social worker, will be able to raise a complaint on a child’s behalf. 
• Welcome packs and information given to children on arrival will be redesigned so that children with reading difficulties or learning differences can understand their rights from day one. 
• The Government will take forward plans to give all children in custody the same formal protections as children in care. This will require new legislation, but in the meantime social workers will proactively check in with children and provide a safe, private space to raise any concerns. 
• A new National Practice Framework will set clear, consistent standards for how all staff working with children in custody should behave, train and develop in their careers. 
• A formal learning review process at the heart of how the Youth Custody Service approaches safeguarding, ensuring continuous improvement. 
• A review of policies, with a focus on those that do not account for the needs of children. 

The Government has apologised unreservedly to the men who suffered shocking and systematic abuse at Medomsley Detention Centre. 

The youth custodial estate today bears little resemblance to the one in which the abuse took place, with children no longer detained for less serious offences and the number of children in custody having fallen significantly in the last 20 years.  

However, the Government is determined that those who do require custody receive the best care and support they need to turn their lives around. 

Today’s announcement comes ahead of a Youth Custody Transformation Plan later this year, setting out the long-term vision for a safer system which rehabilitates children, reduces crime and protects communities. 

Notes to editors 

• The Trowler Review was commissioned by the Minister for Sentencing and Youth Justice and led by Isabelle Trowler, Chief Social Worker for Children and Families in England. 
• The review makes 34 recommendations for the Ministry of Justice, the Youth Custody Service, the Department for Education, and other government partners. All recommendations are being accepted in principle. 
• The youth custodial estate comprises Young Offender Institutions, Secure Training Centres, Secure Children’s Homes and the Secure School, Oasis Restore. As health, social care and education are devolved in Wales, the majority of the actions set out in the response relate to England. 
• The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman report into Medomsley Detention Centre was published in November 2025 and examined abuse that occurred at the centre between 1961 and 1987. 

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 2 July 2026.

Dame Vera Baird DBE KC further appointed as Interim Chair of the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC).

His Majesty the King, on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, has approved the further appointment of Dame Vera Baird DBE KC – for 12 months from 9 December 2026 – as the Interim Chair of the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC).

Ministers consulted the Commissioner for Public Appointments before making this further appointment without competition which will ensure that Dame Vera will be able to lead the CCRC in implementing the recommendations of her review of the body including implementation of the recommendations from HMCPSI which has today reported on an inspection of the Commission’s casework

The CCRC

The CCRC was established by the Criminal Appeal Act 1995 and commenced operation in 1997. The CCRC considers – on application – cases in England, Wales and Northern Ireland where a miscarriage of justice is alleged or suspected. The CCRC decides if there is any new evidence or new argument which raises a real possibility that an appeal court would quash a conviction or reduce a sentence. 

The appointment of the CCRC Chair is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments and this appointment complies with the Cabinet Office Governance Code on Public Appointments. 

Appointments of CCRC Commissioners are made by His Majesty the King on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, who receives advice from the Lord Chancellor. 

Biography

Dame Vera Baird DBE KC’s biography is as follows:

• Member of the Women’s Justice Board
• Visiting Professor in Practice at the Mannheim Centre, London School of Economics
• Honorary Fellow of St Hilda’s College Oxford
• Hon Professor of Law at Exeter and Newcastle Universities
• Hon Doctorates at Northumbria and Loughborough Universities
• Former Victims Commissioner for England and Wales (2019-22)
• DBE for Services to Women and Equalities 2017
• Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria (2012-19)
• Chair of Association of Police and Crime Commissioners 2016
• Association of PCCs’ National lead for Supporting Victims (2012-19)
• Solicitor General for England and Wales (2007-2010)
• Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice (2006-7)
• Member of Parliament for Redcar 2001-2010
• Former Practising Criminal Barrister and QC
• Author of many articles, chapters & reports, most recently The Baird Review into Greater Manchester Police.
• Patron of Respect, Operation Encompass and Board Member of Revolving Doors

Dame Vera Baird DBE KC has declared the following political activity on behalf of the Labour Party: public speaking, Chair of the Women’s Branch Horney and Friern Barnet Constituency (HFBC), Member of the General Committee of HFBC, member of the HFBC Fabian Society, Member of the Labour Women’s Network and campaigning in elections.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice in 1 July 2026.

Former Home Secretary Amber Rudd will lead a major review to make prisons safer, tackle crime and deliver long-term reform that protects the public.

• Former Home Secretary Amber Rudd to lead prison review to tackle drugs, violence and criminal gangs
• Review marks next phase of prison reform to fix prison crisis to keep the public safe
• Latest figures show prisons improving as number of assaults and self-harm incidents fall

Violence, Illicit drugs and organised crime in prisons will be rooted out, as former Home Secretary Amber Rudd leads a review into how to make prisons safer, more secure and better at cutting crime.

After inheriting a prison system days from collapse, the government took immediate action to pull our prisons back from operating in constant crisis. Recent figures show early signs of progress with rates of staff assaults, self-harm and self-inflicted deaths all falling, while inspections published over the last 12 months show improvements across a number of prisons.

Ministers are now turning to the long-term challenges facing prisons, including violence, corruption, staffing, prison capacity and the condition of the estate, ordering a review led by former Home Secretary Amber Rudd to look at the deep-rooted security and safety challenges that continue to blight jails despite the government stabilising the crisis.

The review will look at how emerging threats – from drones to cyber risks – are evolving, and what action is needed to stay ahead of increasingly sophisticated criminal tactics. It will also examine how prisons can strengthen rehabilitation, improve staffing and leadership, and ensure the estate is fit for the future, alongside preventing violence, reducing self-harm and improving day-to-day conditions.

The review will report back by December and builds on significant Government action over the last two years to stabilise the prison system and make streets safer. As well as falls in assaults against staff and self-harm, there have also been hundreds of arrests linked to smuggling illicit items into prisons.

Inspection reports published over the last 12 months have also shown improvements across a number of prisons. Of the 21 His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons reports published this year, 14 (two thirds) recorded improved Healthy Prison Test scores compared with their previous inspection.

While these figures show encouraging signs of progress, violence, assaults on staff and self-harm remain too high, underlining the need for long-term reform.

Deputy Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor David Lammy said:

We inherited a prison system in crisis, with overcrowded jails rife with violence, drugs and organised crime. Thanks to the dedication of prison staff and the action we have taken, the system is now on a more stable footing.   

But recovery is only the first step, not the final word. This independent review will help us tackle the deep-rooted problems facing our prisons and set out a long-term plan to build a safer, more resilient system that cuts crime, reduces reoffending and delivers punishment that works.

Chair of the Independent Review into Prisons, Amber Rudd said:

Prisons are fundamental to public safety. As Home Secretary, I saw the damage that terrorism, serious violence, and organised crime can cause to communities, and the importance of ensuring prisons do not become places where criminal behaviour is reinforced. 

This review will examine how we improve the security and safety of prisons, better protect staff, and strengthen the system’s ability to reduce reoffending and keep the public safe. 

I look forward to working independently across government and with frontline staff to identify practical reforms that make prisons safer, more resilient and fit for the future.

Clinks CEO, Dr Summer Alston-Smith, said:

The Sentencing Act was a welcome first step in addressing several of the immediate challenges that have been impacting the justice system. We are therefore pleased that this review goes further and builds on the Act by taking a long-term view as to how to ensure a more sustainable and effective prison system.

The role of the voluntary sector in supporting such a system, one focused on rehabilitation, cannot be overstated. There is a wealth of evidence to draw on, which the voluntary sector has contributed to significantly over many years, and we look forward to championing the role of the sector in engagement with the review’s work.

The review will look to build on efforts already been made to keep prisons safer, with 40 million already invested to bolster prison security, alongside a further £35 million announced this month to install heavy duty steel grilles on up to 13,000 prison cell windows to stop drones smuggling contraband into jails.

This is on top of government action to build 14,000 extra prison places by 2031, with 3,100 already opened up after just 500 net places were added in the 14 years before, and investing an extra £700 million into the probation system. 

ENDS

Notes to editor

• As Home Secretary, Ms Rudd led the Government’s response to terrorism, serious violence and organised crime, and worked closely with the Ministry of Justice following the Acheson Review to strengthen prison security and tackle the threat of extremism in custody, including through the introduction of specialist separation units for the most dangerous offenders.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 29 June 2026.

People who kill their partner, or ex, to face a 25-year sentencing start point under a change announced today by the Deputy Prime Minister.

• Longer sentences for murders committed by partners or exes
• DPM pays tribute to courageous campaigners who fought for historic change
• Part of Government’s commitment to halve violence against women and girls

Heinous offenders who kill their partner, or ex, could face an additional 10 years in prison, under a change announced today by the Deputy Prime Minister.

Under the current law, most domestic murders have a 15-year sentencing starting point, because they take place in the home with a weapon most likely already at the scene. However, for other murders where a weapon is taken to the scene with intent, the starting point is 25 years.

The Government has announced today (30 June) it intends to close this 10-year gap so that domestic murders are dealt with the same severity as other murders – regardless of whether they happen at home or anywhere else.

Domestic murders are among the most devastating crimes and often represent a culmination of prolonged trauma and abuse.

Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary, David Lammy said:

For centuries, the law failed to protect women from violence at the hands of their partner – whether from marital rape or from abuse behind closed doors. Whilst we’ve made significant progress, we need to continue righting these wrongs.

This change closes a long overdue gap and will ensure those who murder their partner face sentences that better reflect the devastating harm they cause.

I pay tribute to Carole Gould, Julie Devey and Elaine Newborough whose courageous campaign will help future mothers, daughters and wives get the justice they deserve.

More than a fifth of all murders are domestic, and overwhelmingly women are the victims in these cases.

This change forms part of the Government’s commitment to halve Violence Against Women and Girls, and ensure swifter justice for victims and their families.

The change will also include important safeguards to further protect victims. This means in cases where a victim of domestic abuse kills their abuser, the existing 15-year baseline starting point will still apply.

This change was only made possible by this Government stabilising the prison system and introducing the Sentencing Act to ensure that the most dangerous offenders can always be put behind bars.

Further information:

• This change to the law is subject to consultation with the Sentencing Council.
• This measure will be introduced as soon as possible.
• Further policy details, including the application to children who murder, will be outlined in due course.
• The new starting point will apply to future murders after the date of implementation and will not be applied retrospectively.
• This work is being conducted alongside the Law Commission’s review of homicide law and sentencing, to address the disparity as quickly as possible, ahead of the review’s conclusion in 2028.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 26 June 2026.

Ukraine’s resilience and recovery will receive a $1 billion boost through UK-backed funding.

• Government announces latest $1 billion tranche of UK fiscal support that, pooled with partners’ support, will provide more than $4 billion in additional financing for Ukraine 
• Deputy Prime Minister leads UK Government delegation to the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Gdansk  

Ukraine’s resilience and recovery will receive a $1 billion boost through UK-backed funding announced by the Deputy Prime Minister, David Lammy, helping to keep vital services running throughout the war.

A $1 billion UK-backed package, approved by the World Bank, will unlock more than $4 billion in additional financing to help keep hospitals, schools and essential public services operating across Ukraine. The announcement comes as the Deputy Prime Minister leads the UK delegation to the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Gdańsk today (Thursday 25 June).

During the conference, the Deputy PM confirmed approval of the latest $1 billion tranche of fiscal support for Ukraine. The funding will help unlock private sector investment, support economic growth and create skilled jobs, strengthening Ukraine’s long-term recovery and resilience.

Alongside international partners, the UK is using its economic strength to unlock bigger global backing, ensuring Ukraine can keep functioning and recover faster. 

This comes as the Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, announced a new package worth almost £290 million to bolster Ukraine’s recovery and energy security. This investment will support judicial reforms, funding for an EU Anti-Corruption Initiative and backing for Ukraine’s Green Transition Office. 

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy commented:  

We’re backing Ukraine to keep its country running, keep the lights on in hospitals and make sure teachers get paid.

This is the largest component of the UK’s fiscal support for Ukraine since Russia’s illegal invasion in 2022 and it will protect the public services that brave Ukrainians depend on.

The UK will be at Ukraine’s side for its defence today and its rebuilding in the future. We are resolute in our pursuit of a just and lasting peace.

The UK has $5 billion in committed loan guarantees to provide additional support for World Bank lending to Ukraine. This announcement of $1 billion in support is the latest tranche of support under this commitment.  

Further information:

• The $1bn announced today marks the allocation of funding from a previously announced $5bn loan guarantee commitment to support Ukraine’s urgent fiscal needs. Of this:   
• $500m will go towards supporting a World Bank operation worth $3.35bn. This project has delivered crucial reforms, enabling private sector financing and investment; attracting skilled labour to jobs; and advancing cross-border market integration.  
• $500m will go towards a Social Protection operation worth $880m and co-financed by Japan and Germany. This operation is instrumental to modernising social assistance in Ukraine, supporting reforms in social policy, disability rights and labour market inclusion.